§ Mr. SinghTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he intends to take to ensure sites submitted to the European Commission as candidate special areas of conservation under the Habitats Directive are given appropriate protection during delays in the adoption of such sites. [105976]
§ Mr. MeacherI intend to bring forward Regulations which will extend the provisions of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 to candidate Special Areas of Conservation in England as soon as practicable. I am proposing to give these sites the same level of protection as would be available on sites which become Sites of Community Interest or is already available to sites classified as Special Protection Areas under the Birds Directive. This enhanced protection will ensure that the integrity of sites we have proposed as 365W candidate Special Areas of Conservation is not adversely affected by, for example, damaging operations prior to their adoption by Europe.
Policy for such matters falls within the responsibilities of the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.